Hopper outlet assembly



May 12;, 1970 w. M. DANIELSON 3,511,183

HOPPER OUTLET ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 12.,1970 w. M. DANIELSON 3,511,188

HOPPER OUTLET ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 12,,1970 W. M. DAN

IELSON 3,511,188

HOPPER OUTLET ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 21, 196'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 12.,1970 w. M. DANIELSON HOPPER OUTLET ASSEMBLY 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept.21, 1967 May 12., 1970 w. M. DANIELSON HOPPER OUTLET ASSEMBLY llrlll 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 21. 1967 May 12', 1970 w. M. DANIELSON HOPPEROUTLET ASSEMBLY 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 21, 1967 United StatesPatent C) HOPPER OUTLET ASSEMBLY Worrell M. Danielson, Evergreen Park,Ill., assignor to Enterprise Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill.,

a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 669,585 Int.Cl. B61d 7/00 US. Cl. 105-280 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Arailroad car hopper outlet assembly having a main frame with a dischargeopening through which lading can flow. Closure means is positionableacross the discharge opening to close the same for retaining ladingWithin the hopper. The closure means includes a gate selectivelyslidable to open the discharge opening for controlled discharge oflading. Support linkage means is pivotally connected to the main frameand to the closure means to accommodate quick drop swinging movement ofthe latter away from the discharge opening to open the same for rapiddischarge of lading.

My present invention relates generally to a hopper outlet assembly andmore particularly to a combination rapid discharge and controlleddischarge hopper outlet assembly which is adapted for use, for example,in connection with railroad hopper cars.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a hopper outletassembly comprising a main frame having a discharge opening throughwhich lading can flow by gravity, closure means positionable across thedischarge opening to close the same for retaining the lading within thehopper, and support linkage means swingably connecting the closure meansto the main frame to accommodate quick drop swinging movement of theclosure means away from the discharge opening to open the same for rapiddischarge of the lading.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a hopper outletassembly, as described, wherein the support linkage means includes linkmembers disposable in generally overcenter overlapping relation toposition the closure means across the discharge opening.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a hopper outletassembly, as described, wherein lock means are provided to lock theclosure means across the discharge opening when the link members aredisposed in generally overcenter overlapping relation.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a hopper outletassembly, as described, wherein the link members are disposablegenerally in-line and overcenter to hold the closure means in a fullopen position.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide a hopperoutlet assembly, as described, wherein the closure means is arranged toestablish line contact with the main frame about the discharge openingwhen the closure means is positioned across the discharge opening toprovide an effective seal therebetween.

It is a still further object of my present invention to provide a hopperoutlet assembly, as described, wherein the closure means is comprised ofa generally rectangular secondary frame, a gate slidably supported inthe secondary frame, and means for selectively moving the gate relativeto the secondary frame when the closure means is positioned across thedischarge opening to open the latter for controlled discharge of thelading.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner ofconstructing and using hopper outlet assemblies in accordance with theprinciples of my present invention, I shall describe in connection withthe accom- 3,511,188 Patented May 12, 1970 panying drawing a preferredembodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a railway hopper car incorporatinghopper outlet assemblies in accordance with the principles of my presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of oneof the hoppers of FIG. 1 and the associated hopper outlet assembly of mypresent invention, with the closure means thereof being shown in a fullopen position for rapid discharge;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view corresponding generally to FIG. 2, butshowing the closure means in a position for controlled discharge;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, on a further enlarged scale of the hopperoutlet assembly of my present invention disassociated from a railroadhopper car, with the closure means thereof being shown in a full closedposition;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 55 inFIG. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a plan view, foreshortened transversely, of the hopper outletassembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational View of the hopper outlet assembly of FIG.4;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view, foreshortened transversely, of myhopper outlet assembly, as seen on line 88 of FIG. 7, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 9-9 ofFIG. 7, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view, foreshortened transversely, of myhopper outlet assembly, as seen on line 1010 of FIG. 7, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 11-11 ofFIG. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, with theclosure means being shown in a full closed position; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view corresponding generally to FIG. 11, butshowing the closure means in intermediate and full open positions forrapid discharge.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is indicated generally by the referencenumeral 20 a railroad hopper car of the type having six load containinghopper sections 22 arranged in transversely spaced pairs. Since thehoppers themselves are conventional, only the lower portions of thethree hoppers on the near side of the car 20 are shown. Associated withthe lower open end of each hopper 22 is a hopper outlet assembly 24incorporating the principles of my present invention. The several hopperoutlet assemblies 24 are the same in construction and operation exceptfor a reversal of certain parts in the case of the assemblies of eachpair located on opposite sides of the car 20. Therefore, the followingdescription will be confined in general to only one of the hopperassemblies 24. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, thehopper outlet assemblies 24 may be incorporated in a side pocket car 20as shown, or, if desired, in a center-flow car.

The hopper outlet assembly 24, as shown in FIG. 4, is comprised of agenerally rectangular main frame 26 which includes a generally straightside wall 28, an inclined side wall 30, an inclined end wall 32 and anend wall structural member 34 in the form of an angle bar. The wallmembers 28, 30, 32 and 34, which are rigidly joined at the corners ofthe frame 26, are adapted to be suitably secured, as by welding, to thelower portion of the hopper 22. As shown in FIG. 9, the lower edge ofthe side wall 28 is formed with a downwardly and inwardly inclinedmarginal portion 36, and the lower edge portion of the side wall 30presents a downwardly and inwardly inclined marginal portion 38; asshown in FIG. 11, the lower edge portion of the end wall 32 is formedwith a downwardly and inwardly inclined marginal portion 40, and the endangle bar 34 is positioned so that the one side thereof presents adownwardly and inwardly inclined marginal portion 42. The marginalportions 3 6, 38, and 42 define the perimeter of a discharge opening inthe hopper outlet assembly 24.

Positionable across the discharge opening of the hopper outlet assembly24, as shown in FIGS. 4, 9 and 11, is closure means indicated generallyby the reference numeral 44. The closure means 44 comprises a generallyrectangular secondary frame 46 which includes generally C-shaped sidechannel bars 48 and 50, and transverse C-type end channel bars 52 and54. The side channel bars 48 and extend beyond the end channel bar 54and, intermediate of the end channel bars 52 and 54, are provided withupwardly and outwardly inclined marginal portions 56 and 58. The webportions of the end channel bars 52 and 54 are inclined downwardly andinwardly, the upper leg portion of the end channel bar 52 is formed withan upwardly and outwardly inclined marginal portion 60, and a transverseangle bar 62 is secured at its ends by flange means 64 to the sidechannel bars 48 and 50. The angle bar 62 is so arranged that the oneside thereof presents an upwardly and outwardly inclined marginalportion 66.

A difference of approxiamtely three degrees is maintained between theangle of inclination of the main frame marginal portions 36, 38, 40 and42, and the angle of inclination of the secondary frame marginalportions 56, 58, 60, and 66. By reason of this arrangement, thesecondary frame marginal portions 56, 58, and 66 establish line contactwith the main frame marginal portions 36, 38, 40 and 42, when thesecondary frame 46 is positioned across the discharge opening of thehopper outlet assembly 24, to provide an effective seal therebetween. Inthis connection, the end angle bar 34 serves as a rain shield for theseal between the marginal portions 42 and 66, a bent plate 68 secured tothe outboard side of the end wall 32 serves as a rain shield for theseal between the marginal portions 40 and 60, a flat bar 70 secured tothe outboard side of the side wall 28 serves as a rain shield for theseal between the marginal portions 36 and 56, and a flat bar 72 securedto the outboard side of the side wall 30 serves as a rain shield for theseal between the marginal portions 38 and 58.

The closure means 44 further comprises a gate 74 in the form of agenerally rectangular flat plate slidably sup ported in the secondaryframe 46 on the upper horizontal leg portions of the channel bars 48,50, 52 and 54. As shown in FIGS. 4, 9 and 11, a pair of transverselyspaced rack members 76 and 78 are secured to the underside of the gate74. The downwardly facing teeth 80 and 82 of the rack members 76 and 78have meshing engagement with a pair of pinions 84 and 86 secured to atransverse operating shaft 88 rotatably mounted in bearings 90 and 92(FIG. 8) secured in the web portions of the side channel bars 48 and 50.The rack members 76 and 78, which constitute rack means, and the pinions84 and 86, which constitute rotatable pinion means, cooperatively serveas means for selectively moving the gate 74 relative to the secondaryframe 46. The operating shaft 88 extends beyond the side channel bar 50and is provided with a suitable socket member 94 formed with a pluralityof radial Openings 96 for the reception of a removable bar, whereby theshaft 88 may be rotated and the gate 74 moved.

I shall now describe the linkage means that serves to support theclosure means 44 from the main frame 26. The support linkage meanscomprises a first pair of sup port links 98 and 100 (FIGS. 6, 8, and 9)which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the main frame 26on opposite sides thereof adjacent one end thereof. More particularly,the support link 98 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 102 and abracket 104 to the outboard side of the main frame side wall 28, whilethe uppper end of the support link 100 is pivotally connected by meansof a pin 106 and a bracket 108 to the outboard side of the main frameside wall 30. The lower ends of the support links 98 and 100 arepivotally connected to the closure means 44 on opposite sides thereof bymeans of pin members 110 and 112 secured to the outboard sides of theweb portions of the secondary frame side channel bars 48 and 50.

The support linkage means further comprises a second pair of supportlinks 114 and 116 which pivotally interconnect the main frame 26intermediate of the ends thereof and the secondary frame 46 in a mannersimilar to the first pair of support links 98 and 100. That is, theupper end of the support link 114 is pivotally connected by means of apin 118 and a bracket 120 to the outboard side of the main frame sidewall 28, while the upper end of the support link 116 is pivotallyconnected by a pin 122 and a bracket 124 to the outboard side of themain frame side wall 30. The lower ends of the support links 114 and 116are pivotally connected to the closure means 44 by pin members 126 and128 secured to the outboard sides of the web portions of the secondaryframe side channel bars 48 and 50. It will be observed, that the axes ofthe pins 102, 106, 118 and 122 lie in a common horizontal plane, andthat the second pair of support links 114 and 116 are of greater lengththan the first pair of support links 98 and 100. By using support linksof unequal length, the rear end of the closure means 44 can be elevatedhigher in a full open position than would be possible if the pairs ofsupport links were of the same length. In these circumstances, ladingwill flow freely off the inclined surface of the gate 74 and the closuremeans 44 thus has self-cleaning and improved dischargingcharacteristics.

The support linkage means still further comprises (FIGS. 4 and 10) afirst pair of transversely spaced dual link members 130 and 132 whichare secured at their one ends to a transverse shaft 134 journalled inbrackets 136 secured to the outboard side of the main frame end wall 32.Thus, the first pair of link members 130 and 132 are pivotally connectedat their one ends to the main frame 26 on opposite sides thereofadjacent the other end thereof. Mounted on the end of the shaft 134 is asocket member 137 adapted to receive a removable bar whereby the shaft134 may be rotated. A second pair of link members 138 and 140 arepivotally mounted on pins 142 and 144 carried by eye bolts 146 and 148adjustably secured in flanges 150 and 152 extending from the secondaryframe side channels 48 and 50. Thus, the one ends of the second pair oflink members 138 and 140 are pivotally connected to the closure means 44on opposite sides thereof. The other ends of the first and second pairsof link members 130, 138 and 132, 140 are pivotally interconnectedrespectively by pins 154 and 156. As will be explained in greater detailhereinafter, the first and second pairs of link members 130, 132, 138and 140 serve to guide movement of the closure means 44 away from thedischarge opening in the main frame 26 and further cooperate in holdingthe closure means 44 in a full closed position or in a full openposition.

Also journalled in the brackets 136 and extending parallel to thetransverse shaft 134 is a second transverse shaft 158 which is providedat its one end with a socket member 160 adapted to receive a removablebar whereby the shaft 158 may be rotated. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, alocking hub 162 is secured to the transverse shaft 134 and is formedwith a central arcuate cut-out 164. A cooperating locking dog sector 166is secured to the transverse shaft 158 for rotatable mounting on themain frame 26 and is formed with arcuate cam edge 168. Rotation of thetransverse shaft 158 and the locking dog 166 serves to move the arcuatecam edge 168 into and out of engagernent with the arcuate cut-out 164 ofthe locking hub 162. As will be explained further hereinafter, when thelocking dog 166 is in engagement with the locking hub 162, the closuremeans 44 is locked in closed position across the discharge opening inthe main frame 26.

When the closure means 44 is positioned across the discharge opening ofthe main frame 26 as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 11, the dischargeopening is closed thereby for retaining the lading within the hopper 22.To so position the closure means 44, the first and second pairs of linkmembers 130, 132, 138 and 140 are disposable in generally overcenteroverlapping relation, as shown in FIG. 11, with the plane AA passingthrough the axes of the pins 142, 144, 154 and 156 being ofiset aboveand to the right of the axis of the shaft 134. The secondary frame 46 ofthe closure means 44 can be locked in this position by engaging thelocking dog 166 with the locking hub 162 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

If it should be desired to slowly discharge lading from the hopper 22,the operating shaft 88 is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 11. Suchrotation of the shaft 88, through the pinions 84 and 86 and the rackmembers 76 and 78, causes the gate 74 to move toward the position shownin FIG. 3 whereupon the closure means 44 is partially opened for thedischarge of lading. The extent of opening of the gate 74 may be readilyadjusted through rotation of the operating shaft 88 and thus controlleddis charge of the lading may be conveniently effected. Upon completionof the desired discharge of lading, the operat ing shaft 88 is rotatedcounterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 11, until the gate 74 is returnedfrom the position shown in FIG. 3 to the full closed position shown inFIG. 11. A conventional locking bolt 174 is provided for locking theslide gate 74 in closed position.

If a rapid discharge of the lading from the hopper 22 is desired, thetransverse shaft 158 is first rotated to remove the locking dog 166 fromengagement with the locking hub 162. Thereupon, the first and secondpairs of link members 130, 132, 138 and 140 are caused to swingdownwardly toward the broken line position shown in FIG. 12 to effectquick drop swinging movement of the closure means 44 away from thedischarge opening in the main frame 26. Next, to position and hold theclosure means 44 fully open for rapid discharge of the lading, thetransverse shaft 134 is rotated until the first and second pairs of linkmembers 130, 132, 138 and 140 are disposed generally in-line andovercenter, as shown in solid and dotted lines in FIG. 12 (also see FIG.2), with the axis of the pins 154 and 156 being offset above and to theright of the plane B-B passing through the axes of the shaft 134 and thepins 142 and 144. To limit overcenter movement, the link members 130 and132 are provided with lateral stop flanges 169 that are engageable bythe adjacent end portions of the link members 138 and 140. Uponcompletion of discharge of lading from the hopper 22, the transverseshaft 134 is reversely rotated to return the first and second pairs oflink members 130, 132, 138 and 140 from the in-line overcenter positionshown in FIG. 12 to the overlapping overcenter position shown in FIGS. 4and 11. The closure means 44 is thus returned to a full closed position.Finally, the locking dog 166 is rotated back into engagement with thelocking hub 162 whereupon the closure means 44 is locked in closed position across the discharge opening in the main frame 26. When a pair ofhopper outlet assemblies 24 are mounted on opposite sides of a car 20,the inner ends of the transverse shafts 134 and 158 of one assembly maybe joined by coupling sleeves 170 and 172 (FIG. 4) to the inner ends ofthe corresponding shafts of the other assembly whereby to permitconjoint rapid discharge operation of both assemblies from one side ofthe car.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be a preferredembodiment of my present invention, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

I claim:

1. For use with a load containing hopper, a hopper outlet assemblycomprising a main frame having a discharge opening through which ladingcan flow by gravity, closure means positionable across said dischargeopening to close the same for retaining the lading within the hopper,support linkage means pivotally connecting said closure means to saidmain frame to accommodate quick drop swinging movement of said closuremeans away from said discharge opening to open the same for rapiddischarge of the lading, and slidably openable means carried by saidclosure means, and adapted when said closure means is positioned acrosssaid discharge opening to be slidably opened to provide controlleddischarge of the lading.

2. The hopper outlet assembly of claim 1 wherein said support linkagemeans comprises a first pair of support links at their upper ends beingpivotally connected to said main frame on opposite sides thereofadjacent one end thereof and at their lower ends being pivotallyconnected to said closure means on opposite sides thereof, and a secondpair of support links at their upper ends being pivotally connected tosaid main frame on opposite sides thereof intermediate of the endsthereof and at their lower ends being pivotally connected to saidclosure means on oposite sides thereof.

3. The hopper outlet assembly of claim 2 wherein said upper ends of saidfirst and second pairs of support links are pivotally connected to saidmain frame on axes lying in a common horizontal plane, and wherein saidsecond pair of support links are of greater length than said first pairof support links.

4. The hopper outlet assembly of claim 2 wherein said support linkagemeans further comprises a first pair of link members pivotally connectedat their one ends to said main frame on opposite sides thereof adjacentthe other end thereof, a second pair of link members pivotally connectedat their one ends to said closure means on opposite sides thereof, andsaid first and second pairs of link members being pivotallyinterconnected at their other ends and being disposable in generallyovercenter overlapping relation to position said closure means acrosssaid discharge opening.

5. The hopper outlet assembly of claim 4 wherein said first and secondpairs of link members are disposable generally in-line and overcenter tohold said closure means in a full open position.

6. The hopper outlet assembly of claim 5 wherein said first pair of linkmembers are secured at their one ends to a transverse shaft rotatablymounted in said main frame, a locking hub with an arcuate cut-out issecured to said transverse shaft, and a locking dog sector having anarcuate cam edge is rotatably mounted on said main frame with saidarcuate cam edge being movable into engagement with said arcuate cut-outof said locking hub when said first and second pairs of link members aredisposed in generally overcenter overlapping relation to lock saidclosure means across said discharge opening.

7. The hopper outlet assembly of claim 1 wherein said closure meanscomprises a generally rectangular second ary frame, a gate slidablysupported in said secondary frame, and means for selectively moving saidgate relative to said secondary frame when said closure means ispositioned across said discharge opening to open the latter forcontrolled discharge of the lading.

8. The hopper outlet assembly of claim 7 wherein said means for movingsaid gate comprises rack means secured to said gate, and rotatablepinion means carried by said secondary frame and engaging said rackmeans for moving the latter and said gate when rotated.

9. The hopper outlet assembly of claim 1 wherein said main frame hasdownwardly and inwardly inclined marginal portions about said dischargeopening, and said closure means has upwardly and outwardly inclinedmarginal portions that establish line contact with said main framemarginal portions when said closure means is positioned across saiddischarge opening to rovide an effective seal therebetween.

10. For use with a load containing hopper, a hopper outlet assemblycomprising a main frame having downwardly and inwardly inclined marginalportions defining a discharge opening through which lading can flow bygravity, a generally rectangular secondary frame, a gate slidablysupported in said secondary frame, said secondary frame and said gatebeing positionable across said discharge opening to close the same forretaining the lading within the hopper, said secondary frame havingupwardly and outwardly inclined marginal portions that establish linecontact with said main frame marginal portions when said secondary frameis positioned across said discharge opening to provide an effective sealtherebetween, a first pair of support links at their upper ends beingpivotally connected to said main frame on opposite sides thereofadjacent one end thereof and at their lower ends being pivotallyconnected to said secondary frame on opposite sides thereof, a secondpair of support links at their upper ends being pivotally connected tosaid main frame on opposite sides thereof intermediate of the endsthereof and at their lower ends being pivotally connected to saidsecondary frame on opposite sides thereof, said upper ends of said firstand second pairs of support links being pivotally connected to said mainframe on axes lying in a common horizontal plane, said second pair ofsupport links being of greater length than said first pair of supportlinks, a first pair of link members secured at their one ends to atransverse shaft rotatably mounted in said main frame adjacent the otherend thereof, a second pair of link members pivotally connected at theirone ends to said secondary frame, said first and second pairs of linkmembers being pivotally intercon nected at their other ends and beingdisposable in generally overcenter overlapping relation to position saidsecondary frame and said gate across said discharge opening, a lockinghub with an arcuate cut-out secured to said transverse shaft, a lockingdog sector having an arcuate cam edge rotatably mounted on said mainframe with said arcuate cam edge being movable into engagement with saidarcuate cut-out of said locking hub when said first and second pairs oflink members are disposed in generally overcenter overlapping relationto lock said secondary frame across said discharge opening, rack meanssecured to said gate, rotatable pinion means carried by said secondaryframe and engaging said rack means for moving the latter and said gatewhen rotated to open said discharge opening for controlled discharge ofthe lading, said first and second pairs of support links and said firstand second pairs of link members sreving when said locking dog sector isdisengaged from said locking hub to accommodate quick drop swingingmovement of said secondary frame and said gate away form said dischargeopening to open the same for rapid discharge of the lading, and saidfirst and second pairs of link members being disposable generallyin-line and over-center to hold said secondary frame and said gate in afull open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,396,675 8/1968 Stevens -282 X571,480 11/1896 Johnson 105284X 938,976 11/1909 Clark 105282 X 1,222,6034/1917 Clapper 251 299 X 2,079,392 5/1937 Yost 105-284 X 3,167,2221/1965 Koranda 222 556 X 3,348,501 10/1967 Stevens et al. 105282 XSAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner N. L. STACK, 1a., Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. XR.

